Working conditions and health status in teachers. Рilot research

Abstract

Introduction. Teacher’s health problems depend on many factors. However, research has focused on psychological stressors. The goal is to assess the factors of the school environment and determine the impact of seniority and the level of academic load on the health status of secondary school teachers. Material and methods. Assessment of working conditions of teachers was studied on hygienic characteristics and their research in 11 schools. There were studied conditions of the school environment (microclimate, lighting) and the timing of the teachers’ labor process. A clinical and psychological examination of 53 women with an average age of 50.0 (44.0-59.0) years, work experience - 27.0 (19.0-34.0), load - 25.0 (21.0-32.0) hours per week. According to the indices of harmfulness and danger of factors of the working environment, the severity and intensity of the labor process, the class of working conditions in only 25% of the examined corresponded to the permissible class. The frequency of increased irritability, hypertension, emotional exhaustion, reduced stress resistance is higher in the group of teachers with experience of 20 years or more. Discussion. Teachers of secondary general education are exposed not only to occupational stress, but also to the effects of the negative conditions of the school environment and the labor process. Conclusions. Targeted studies of the conditions of the school environment, factors of the educational process must be carried out to identify their impact on the health status of teachers.